PLUGHITZ Live Presents (Video)

The human species possesses something that others do not: expressing emotions. We want the important people in our life to know how we feel about them; hence the Emora was conceived. The wearable Emora is a bracelet that transmits our deepest feelings when we are too far away to express them.

The device lets users choose the color of the light bar, expressing and sharing feelings to those who are most important to us. It uses Bluetooth communication to your phone to share that information. Your feelings can be shared with up to 3 pre-selected people at one time.

It will be available on January 24, 2017 through Indiegogo for $150.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.

We are unfortunately living in a world where we are not as safe as we once were. We have to be aware of our surroundings all the time. There is a new product out called Nimb designed to alleviate the stress of being out alone at night, walking across a dark campus or being in a deserted parking garage. Nimb is a ring designed to be able to call for emergency help or someone on your pre-existing call list.

The trigger button is cleverly concealed on the base of the ring and, if the person feels threatened, can be pushed for 3 seconds to summon help. If the receiving person has the Nimb app, they can automatically get your location, while someone without the app gets a text message. The ring comes in 2 colors, black and white and the sizes range from 3-12, fitting both men and women.

Following a successful crowdfunding campaign, you can pre-order Nimb in either color for $129.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.

Every once in a while a product comes along that really catches your eye for a very good reason: and the reason here is safety. In&motion is a wearable airbag that is designed to keep you safe while pursuing your favorite hobby or sport such as skiing, horseback riding, or motorcycle riding. It is based on sensors that fit in and around the vest worn by the user whose purpose is to inflate the vest during times of danger but before impact.

The interesting thing about this airbag is that you can tell it if you are a novice or an experienced sportsman and what sport you are participating in. Different sports require different movements and the sensors pick up on that. There are several configurations for the airbag making it adjustable for various sports and allows it to be available for men, women and children.

In&motion is available in parts of Europe now and will be coming to the US when the demand is high enough.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.

When you think of electronics and robotics, Barnes & Noble might not be the first name to come into your head, but it might be time to change your way of thinking. Similar to how libraries are changing the type of knowledge they contain, so has Barnes & Noble. Today, in addition to the books and periodicals you would expect, the store also carries electronic kits, robots and more.

Elizabeth Dunn from the Saint Petersburg store talks with us about the change in culture and products for the company. Today, each store has its own social media accounts so that they can interact properly with the local community. Each store holds events - some of which are in conjunction with corporate, while others are entirely local. One of the more surprising events is a Mini Maker Faire taking place at all locations on November 5th.

Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.

For many, Halloween is a favorite holiday. It gives us the ability to pretend to be someone else for a day and exist in an altered reality. We can even explore our fears in a safe and controlled environment through haunted houses and attractions.

Mark Muncy is the creator and casting director for Hellview Cemetery, a haunted attraction in Saint Petersburg, Florida. Taking over parts of his property for the last 2 weeks of October, this attraction started as a personal project for a few former scare actors from Tampa and Orlando who wanted to venture out on their own. With time, people offered them money for what they did, and they turned it into a charity event, supporting two separate charities.

Unfortunately, since this interview was conducted, it was announced that a new neighbor had forced Muncy to get a new type of permit for the event, which the city would not grant, meaning that Hellview will not happen this year. Hopefully the charity event will return in 2017.

Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.

Artistry is a skill that, for most is inherent. While many require formal training to hone those skills, others are self-taught and can accomplish great things. Noble Valerian is one of those self-taught artists with a tremendous amount of skill. Picking up the skill while helping a friend, he found he had a knack for it and continued to pursue it. Today, he lives in the Tampa area and is responsible for graphics including the new branding for this year's Pinellas Comic and Maker Con.

In addition to 2D graphics, he has also been working on an indie game, which he hopes to release before the end of the year. The game is based on research conducted from potential players via survey. As it is his first game, he plans to release it for free, with the hopes of getting more feedback from players. To follow along with his journey, check out his blog.

Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.

Modern maker events are an evolution of what was once craft fairs, so it is no surprise that maker events often feature unique crafts such as jewelry and blades. Vicky McGriff of Your Day Bouquets & More is one of those artisans.

Together with her husband, they create hand-crafted knives from lawnmower blades and more. In addition, Vicky creates jewelry from unusual things like Scrabble tiles. She also makes more traditional looking items, but often featuring charms and items from popular culture, such as super heroes.

Vicki also takes custom orders for her jewelry through her email, which is shown in the video and not here for anti-spam purposes.

Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.

While the maker community is large and varied, the most notable sector right now is the electronic. With boards and kits like Arduino, Raspberry Pi and mCookie, there are lots of ways to learn and build a variety of electronic projects. Unfortunately for many, getting into this area of building can be a it difficult.

Joseph Long, the founder of HackerBoxes.com, spoke with us about his company and the product and services they provide. Think of it like Loot Crate, except instead of receiving t-shirts and Funko Pop figurines, you receive electronic parts and kits. Each kit is themed and comes with instructions for various projects. The online community includes additional projects to repurpose previous parts for new builds.

Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.

In the US, we have a lot of electronic waste. If you need an example, take a look at what is happening with the Samsung Galaxy Note7. More universally, though, as people upgrade their computers, older models need to go somewhere - but where?

Tony Selvaggio spoke with us about his company, eSmart Recycling, which takes those old electronics off your hands and finds new uses for them. Some may have zero value, but others have great value to developing countries. What we consider to be an antique laptop is far better than what is used in some schools in other countries. Tony's company takes those computers, as well as the revenue from scrapping other devices, and fund computer labs around the globe.

If you have older electronics that can be recycled, you can contact eSmart Recycling through their website.

Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.

Lucienne Diver is an author who takes from her anthropology and Latin language background to write her adult Latter-Day Olympians series, which features "Greek gods running around modern day LA with murder, myth and mayhem." The series is 5 books deep, plus a free prequel novella to get you into the series, and has been running for 5 years.

Her other series, Vamped, is a young adult series that is "Clueless meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Vamped currently has 4 books and has been running for about 9 years. Next year she plans to release a 5th installment, plus a reissue of the others, all with new covers.

The 5 books of Latter-Day Olympics and 4 books of Vamped are available now.

Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.